 The Clarinet BBoard
|
Author: Dan Shusta
Date: 2003-06-08 00:52
Greeting everyone,
I just got word about the new Amati clarinet made from mopani wood. It is a beautiful clarinet and I thought I would pass it along.
Please note: all of the following URL's work for I have tried each one.
For a picture of the clarinet:
http://www.grahams-music.com/clarinets/mopani.htm
For information about the mopani wood, please visit the following:
http://kendaco.telebyte.com/cburns/mopane.html
http://www.worldtrad.org/Seery/seery-GLOSSARY.htm
http://peelerfifes.com/woods/
http://www.torpatech.com/svarvamnen_e.html
http://www.prosono.co.za/timbers.htm#Mopani
It sure looks gorgeous. I can only hope that the tone is as pretty as the instrument. (I was assured that this wood is NOT the same as used in aquariums.)
I hope you find the above information useful.
Dan
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: GBK
Date: 2003-06-08 02:32
Attachment: acl 512.jpg (354k)
Graham (from Graham's music, a woodwind.org sponsor) sent me a photograph of the Mopani wood clarinet (see attachment).
He said the instrument pictured (model 512) is a regular Bb Boehm with the LH Eb lever. The also have a 515, full Boehm Bb with the low Eb key. The raised tone holes are darker because they are wood inserts, (with the grain going out to maintain dimensional stability). Eventually Mopani clarinets will be offered for the entire 600 line.
According to Graham, Amati is the first manufacturer to make clarinets from Mopani wood.
Price is yet to be determined ...GBK
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: L. Omar Henderson
Date: 2003-06-08 02:55
(Disclaimer - the LBD Corp. Associates including Doctor's Products and Grahams Music will be exhibiting together at ClarinetFest in SLC)
Hopefully Graham will get at least one of these horns for me - and others - to play test at ClarinetFest. A lot has been said about the factors of manufacturing, design elements, and type of wood contributing to the tone of the instrument. Many people feel that woods other than Grenadilla - e.g. Rosewood, have a "warmer" tonal quality. It will be interesting to see if Mopani wood, which by all accounts may be a good alternative instrument wood, has a pleasing tone (as well as the other critical elements needed in a horn - e.g. good intonation - not the wood's fault).
The Doctor
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: JMcAulay
Date: 2003-06-08 05:23
Dan, thanks for offering your wood research. I went to all of 'em, and this appears to be very good stuff. Density as high as that of blackwood is impressive, too.
It is certainly a beautiful wood, and the Clarinet looks great, especially with no bell ring. In fact, I now appreciate the comment some time back by John Moses that the Amati logo seems too large. On the black instruments, I don't really care, but on this one it could stand to be less obtrusive. Maybe in platinum rather than gold, too, eh? Are you reading this, Graham?
Yes, I would definitely like to play-test one of these.
Regards,
John
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Dan Shusta
Date: 2003-06-08 16:14
To JMcAulay: The URL's for the mopani wood were provided to me by Graham. I believe he deserves the wood research credit.
I agree that the symbol is rather intrusive upon the beautiful natural wood grain. If it is simply stamped upon the surface, I think I can see an opportunity for someone to be able to remove it and allow more wood to show through. If it's not removeable...hmmm...maybe the bell could simply be turned around. I just love the look of the wood.
If it's at the Clarinetfest in SLC, I hope that some of you who frequent this BB will be there to try it out and then give the clarinet world your impressions on this BB as soon as possible.
I'm looking forward to the play test results.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: John O'Janpa
Date: 2003-06-08 16:35
WOW!!
Reminds me of Pan American's propeller wood, but with the desireable qualities of blackwood. They should sell a zillion of them if it plays well, holds up well, and doesn't require another mortgage on the house to obtain.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
The Clarinet Pages
|
 |
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
